I admit there are a lot of things I use to do more of: I use to write in my journal daily, write weekly articles, play my guitar, practice my singing, read books, garden, bake, and have time to create crafty things. I’m not sure if it’s because I don’t have time for them anymore, or if it’s because I’m distracted by social media, or if I’m just being down right lazy. Either way, there’s no doubt that we were designed to create, discover, and reach our full potential. But this won’t magically happen by wishing, hoping, and dreaming – it takes work, discipline, focus, and sacrifice. Here are some simple tips on how to streamline our time, discipline ourselves, and reduce the distractions around us.
©2014 Susie Lee
1. Get enough sleep. Whoever coined the phrase “I’ll sleep when I’m dead” didn’t have all the facts straight. Not getting enough Zzz’s could hinder productivity at work, so try to get those recommended seven to nine hours of snooze time!
2. Create routines. Make a habit of, well, sticking to habits. Schedule actions like writing emails at a certain time or hitting the gym after work, and try to do them daily. Soon that routine will happen on autopilot.
3. Wake up earlier. As long as you’re still able to squeeze in enough sleep, try extending the day by getting up an hour earlier—when it’s still quiet and there are fewer distractions.
4. Step away from the inbox. Incoming emails can be a nuisance. Make a habit to only check the inbox at certain times of the day to avoid getting sidetracked with requests and responses.
5. Make a daily to-do list. Stay away from huge to-do lists. Instead, create a daily list of realistic jobs to tackle, like folding laundry, scheduling a doctor’s appointment, or paying the cable bill. Break up big goals into micro-tasks, like going to a yoga class over getting six-pack abs, or writing a page over completing a thesis. Soon, the small things will add up to big accomplishments.
6. Take a midday workout break. Got writers’ block? Can’t fathom cleaning the bathroom? Try hitting the pavement. Working out during the day could actually boost productivity, so the time spent exercising could actually help us get more done later.
7. Don’t multitask. Our brains aren’t wired to juggle too much at once, and we can work nearly twice as fast if we do only one thing at a time. (And nope, we’re not talking LOST time-travel). So remember those childhood manners and finish tasks one at a time.
8. Silence the phone. When it comes to getting stuff done, sometimes silence is key. Turn off email alerts and the cell phone ringer—that’s what voicemail is for!
9. Make a to-don’t list. Bad habits are just as significant as good ones. So make a list of things not to do because they make you unproductive (we’re staring at you, Netflix), and stick to it.
10. Brainstorm. Take some time to sit and get those creative juices flowing. Without distractions, brainstorming may be the way to come up with killer ideas in record time. Bonus: Creativity can make you happier.
11. Do those MITs. Nope, this isn’t college talk. MIT stands for Most Important Tasks, and it’s a way to highlight the items that matter most on that to-do list. At the start of each day, write down a few things that must get done. Commit to tackling those tasks, and let the rest of the chips fall where they may.
12. Hit inbox zero. Sort every email once that inbox is open. Respond, file, draft, or delete. Keeping the inbox clean is key to staying organized and on point. (Just remember not to keep the inbox open when you aren’t organizing it).
13. Stay healthy. Just like… don’t get sick. (It may be easier said than done). But health and productivity go hand in hand, so be sure to maintain good health habits, like eating well and washing up after hitting the gym!
14. Keep a pen and pad on hand. Make like Richard Branson and carry pen and paper (or your smartphone) to catch any useful thought that may come to mind. Up the creativity ante and make your own moleskin DIY style.
15. Shut off social media. Sayonara, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. Social media can be a huge time suck. Studies have found that it can take up a significant chunk of time at the office, and may even predict lower grades in school. Make it a habit to unplug whenever you need to get something done.
16. “Eat the frogs.” We swear it’s a real term. Each day, once you’ve figured out your Most Important Tasks, do the task you’re least looking forward to first. That way, you’ll get it out of the way early and feel super productive, to boot. (No guarantees Prince Charming will emerge).
17. Slow down. Read. This. Slowly. Getting stuff done isn’t always a matter of making it to the finish line first. Take time to reflect, brainstorm, and recharge. The added energy will make you that much more productive when you put your nose back to the grindstone.
18. Track time. Take a day to record how much time is spent writing emails, reading blogs, texting, etc. You may be surprised at how much time certain activities (ahem, browsing Pinterest) take up every day. Once you’ve figured out how your time is being used up, make it a point to prioritize what really matters to you (and cut out what doesn’t).
19. Don’t bounce around. Box off a specific amount of time for every task on your to-do list each day. Assign a chunk of the day for one project, and stay focused on that project during its designated time. Once that time is up, move on to the next mission.
20. Tune out. Those headphones will help tune out any distractions. Plus, coworkers and friends may be less likely to interrupt if they see we’re tuned in.
21. Look back. Schedule some time toward the end of each week to reflect on what you accomplished and make any necessary schedule tweaks for the following week.
22. Set triggers. Leave reminders around your workspace and home to help you remember what needs to get done. Place bills that need to be paid or books to be read out in the open, and stick post-it reminders on the fridge!
23. Eat well. What we scarf down for lunch may do more than satisfy hunger. Certain foods, like salmon, almonds, and carrots, can give us a much-needed boost of energy. So forgo the take-out and be picky at the cafeteria!
24. De-clutter. Get rid of anything that may cause distractions. Put away the dishes, fold clothes, and get rid of excess papers on the desk so you’re less likely to get sidetracked. Up the ante by implementing some Feng Shui principles in your workspace.
25. Say no. Don’t stretch yourself too thin. Learning to say no—to going out for drinks when you’re tired, to extra projects when you’re swamped—keeps us focused, prevents overwhelm, and may even ward off sickness.
26. Take a break. Carve out some quality “you” time each day to keep a balance between the busy world and your own inner life.
27. Download help. Still need to get sh!t done? Luckily there’s an app for that.
Written by Laura Schwecherl
There are going to be days when we’ve lost our zest for life or lack the motivation to fulfill our goals. It’ll happen to all of us at some point in our lives whether it’s in our homes, work, school, and yes, even in our play. Here are a few helpful tips on how to stay motivated during those times we feel tired and unenthusiastic. Most importantly, we need to rest along the way, take care of ourselves, and enjoy the simple things in life.
©2014 Susie Lee
Usually at the beginning of every year, I set goals. But this year, I decided I wasn’t going to set goals to accomplish but rather make commitments to strengthen my character and build my relationships.
Don’t misunderstand me, setting goals are important and have their place but I don’t want to neglect other areas in my life that need my attention and time. The most important things in life aren’t success or productivity but rather the quality of our relationships and the development of our character. This year, I want to focus on becoming a better, kinder, and more loving person – to love despite the hurt, to give without expecting anything in return, to forgive without the apology. I want to think the best of situations, not judge people by my interpretation, remain modest at all times, give kindness to those who don’t deserve it, and love where it’s not reciprocated. I want to use my time to make a lasting difference and strive to be selfless rather than selfish. Instead of pointing the finger at someone else, I’m going to work on myself, instead of blaming, I’m going to take responsibility for my actions.
This year, I’m going to make a conscious effort to live my days with gratitude, wonderment, contentment, peace and joy. I want to stop, breathe, listen, and take moments in. I want to disengage with my electronic gadgets and engage with people in person by being attentive and alert. Of course, I have goals I want to pursue but I believe they’ll naturally fall into place as I’m living out my best.
12 commitments for 2104:
Welcome to a New Year and a better you!
©2014 Susie Lee
If what you’re doing is not your passion, you have nothing to lose.
– Anonymous
The person who says something is impossible should not interrupt the person who is doing it.
– Anonymous
It is never too late to be what you might have been.
– George Eliot
All our dreams can come true – if we have the courage to pursue them.
– Walt Disney
What the mind can conceive, it can achieve.
– Napoleon Hill
If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.
-Milton Berle
The sky has never been the limit. We are our own limits. It’s then about breaking our personal limits and outgrowing ourselves to live our best lives.
– Anonymous
Don’t say you don’t have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur, Michaelangelo, Mother Teresea, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein.
– Life’s Little Instruction Book, compiled by H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
Everything you want should be yours: the type of work you want; the relationships you need; the social, mental, and aesthetic stimulation that will make you happy and fulfilled; the money you require for the lifestyle that is appropriate to you; and any requirement that you may (or may not) have for achievement or service to others. If you don’t aim for it all, you’ll never get it all. To aim for it requires that you know what you want.
-Richard Koch
Your time is limited, don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma, which is living the result of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinion drowned your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition, they somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.
– Steve Jobs
“What you are planning to do tomorrow, do today;
what you are going to do today, do right now.”
-Indian Proverb
“The world needs dreamers and the world needs doers.
But above all, the world needs dreamers who do.”
-Sarah Ban Breathnach
This week I encourage you:
Don’t procrastinate. Don’t wait. Don’t fear. Don’t doubt.
Take the risk. Do it now. Seize the moment. Dream BIG.
And take positive steps towards it.
-susie lee
Have a great surprised filled week!
“That which matters the least should never give way to that which matters the most.”
‘That which matters the most’ looks different for each person. How we choose to spend our time, days, resources and energy usually reflects what we value in life. That’s why goal setting is personal. If you’re one of those people who have difficulty setting goals, it maybe helpful to ask these questions: What are my core values? What is important to me? What do I want out of life? Where do I want to be in 10 years? How can I contribute to the world? For some people, this process of self-reflection and self-realization is life changing and liberating and for others, it’s a challenging and frustrating endeavor that paralyzes them.
Whether your goals are to contribute to the greater good of mankind or lose a few pounds, one thing to keep in mind when setting goals is to set S.M.A.R.T goals. There’s a saying ‘If you aim for nothing, you’ll hit it every time.’ That’s why it’s important to set Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely goals.
For example:
I will get in shape this year. NOT SMART.
I am running 2 times a week for 45 minutes and hiking 2 times a month for 3 hours. SMART.
Another important aspect in setting SMART goals is to write them in the present tense, this triggers your brain to subconsciously get you moving towards your goals. Write them on a poster board and hang it up where you’ll see it as a daily reminder. Placing pictures of your goals will, also help you visualize them better.
If you really want to keep goal setting simple then pick one word to live by this year. For example, my word for 2012 is strength. It’s easy to remember yet powerful because it will guide me in my actions and decisions. And at the end of the year I can ask myself, ‘Did I have strength this year?’
The purpose of goals is to enrich our lives, not a burden of rules to keep. It stretches us to our fullest potential, not serve as a reminder of our limitations. It builds character, strength, and skill that cannot be stolen or destroyed. This confidence creates beauty within which then reflects itself in the work of our hands. Continue to dream and pursue!
Conversations welcome! I would love to hear any comments, goals or questions you may have from this article.
As I set long-term goals for the New Year, I do not want to underestimate the impact of small decisions I make everyday. These positive or negative choices will either contribute to or hinder my goals. The daily choices I make will eventually form into a habit, which will then turn into a lifestyle. I want my goals to be more than just for this year but for the many years to come. To have an effective long-term goal, it must be coupled with positive short-term decisions I make in the moment. I want to share an excerpt from this book I read over the holidays that describes it so well:
“We also need to make better choices in the moment. As Nobel Prize-winning economist Thomas Schelling described, we behave as if we’re two different people: one who wants a lean body and another who wants dessert.
Even small short-term differences in how we allocate our time can result in better days. An extra half-hour of sleep or an extra hour of social time can be the difference between a great day and a mediocre day. Changing our daily routine a little can have a big impact on the quality of each day.
On a given day, we might sit around and respond to problems at work instead of initiating. We might passively watch TV rather than getting out and exercising. Or maybe we spend on something now that creates stress in a few weeks or months. We might even think about doing something to give back to our community, but decide we’ll do it later and never get around to it. Days like this start a vicious cycle.
Just one day when we eat poorly, skip exercising, are stressed at work, don’t get enough social time, and worry about money leads to a host of negative outcomes. On days like this, we have less energy, we look worse, we don’t treat people well, and we get a lousy night’s sleep. As a result, we miss the reset provided by a sound night of sleep, and the cycle continues.
When we break this downward spiral and get a good night’s sleep, we’re off to the right start. This allows us to wake up refreshed and increases our chances of exercising in the morning. If we can use our strengths at our job every day, this connects our daily activities to a much higher purpose and allows us to get more done. Between work and time with our friends and family, if we can get in six hours of social time, chances are, we’ll have 10 times as many good moments as stressful ones.
One of the best ways to create more good days is by setting positive defaults. Any time you help your short-term self work with your long-term self, you have an opportunity. You can intentionally choose to spend more time with the people you enjoy most and engage your strengths as much as possible. You can structure your finances to minimize the worry caused by debt. You can make exercise a standard part of your routine. You can make healthier decisions in the supermarket so you don’t have to trust yourself when you have a craving a few days later. And you can make commitments to community, religious, or volunteer groups, knowing that you will follow through once you’ve signed up in advance. Through these daily choices, you create stronger friendships, families, workplaces, and communities.”
-Well Being The Five Essential Elements by Tom Rath & Jim Harter (pgs. 110-112)
Susie Lee 